Meet the Kilkenny sisters 'living the dream' working as Emirates cabin crew in Dubai

A close-bonded sister duo from Kilkenny City have achieved their dream job travelling the world side by side as cabin crew for Emirates.

As the UAE marks 2026 as the Year of the Family, two sisters from Kilkenny, Éabha and Doireann Sloyan, share their heart-warming story about the importance of family and following your dreams.

The sisters are living proof that family bonds can stretch far beyond home, right across the globe.

Éabha and Doireann Sloyan grew up together in Kilkenny City and are now both living and flying from Dubai, experiencing a whole other world to their hometown in Ireland.

The sisters both share a great love of travel and curiosity about the world, values rooted in their upbringing since they were little girls.

“Growing up, travel was always something we talked about,” said Éabha, a graduate of NUIG, who has spent over a year living and working in Dubai.

“Working for Emirates has given me the chance to see places I only ever dreamed of, but what makes it extra special is sharing that experience with my sister.”

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Inspired by her sister's journey, Doireann left her previous corporate career to pursue her own journey as cabin crew with Emirates and relocated to Dubai to join her sister.

“It was a big decision to leave my job, but seeing Éabha thrive gave me the confidence to go for it,” Doireann said.

“Training was intense but incredibly rewarding, and having my sister already here made the transition so much easier. It really felt like we were starting this adventure together.”

Successful Emirates cabin crew recruits relocate to Dubai and complete eight weeks of intensive training at the airline’s world-class academy, where opportunities then open up across all cabin classes.

Now fully qualified, the sisters operate on Emirates’ global network, often comparing notes on destinations, layovers and life in the sky.

“Rio de Janeiro has been a standout for me,” said Éabha. “The food, the culture, the energy, every visit feels like a new adventure.”

“Australia is always special,” Doireann said. “There’s such a strong Irish community there, and it’s amazing to be able to visit friends and extended family who emigrated, while doing your job.”

Both sisters have embraced life in Dubai, describing it as a city that balances career opportunity with lifestyle.

“On days off, it can be as relaxed or as adventurous as you want,” Éabha said. “Beach mornings, desert activities, great food it doesn’t feel like a typical place you move to for work. It feels like somewhere you live".

Doireann said, "you meet people from all over the world, but there’s also a strong Irish network here. It makes Dubai feel surprisingly like home.”